The Diamondbacks are averaging 26,938 fans, 19th among their peers, at Chase Field where the team's second-to-last homestand kicks off tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That's 55.4 percent capacity and slightly ahead of last season's average of 25,992.

The team has been unable to replicate the attendance figures of the first six seasons of the franchise, which were highlighted by three division titles, including a World Series in 2001. The Diamondbacks finished in the top 10 in major-league attendance in all but one of those early seasons.

The team has struggled most recently with season-ticket sales, which have loomed around 11,000 and 12,000 in recent years.

"I'm content with where we are (with this season's attendance)," said Hall, whose team is 69-72 and 10 1/2 games behind San Francisco. "We're a little above projections. But we also know if we want to move to the next level and average around 30,000, we have to be more consistent."

Thirteen teams are averaging more than 30,000 fans, including No.1 Philadelphia, which is drawing 44,149. Eight of the top-10 attendance teams are either in first place or within two games. The exceptions are the Phillies, who have won five consecutive division titles, and the Chicago Cubs, who are 29 1/2 games out but have a unique and loyal fan base.

League-wide attendance is up about 4 percent, according to Major League Baseball, thanks to an improved economy and an extra playoff spot that's beefing up the late-season races.

The Diamondbacks' challenges include fighting for the entertainment dollar in a saturated sports market that includes teams from the NFL, NHL and NBA as well as a major college. It didn't help that the team's late struggles this season coincided with the start of college and professional football camps.

In baseball, too, whom you play has a profound effect on a crowd.

The Diamondbacks were just 4 1/2 games out when they returned from a successful road trip in mid-August. Their first opponent was Miami, which was 55-67 at the time and already 20 1/2 games out of first. Three of the four games in the series drew fewer than 18,000 fans. Next came San Diego, which was 14 1/2 out.

The Diamondbacks lost eight of 10 games in that homestand, and fans began to emotionally check out.

The 2012 season started out promising as fans were still riding the high of the 2011 division title. Through the first 19 home games, attendance was up an average of nearly 5,000 fans.

In this community, however, past success is not necessarily a precursor for a spike in attendance. Following the four division titles the Diamondbacks won before 2011, attendance decreased twice, in 2000 and 2003.

Some fans feel the team's personality, or lack of one, is playing a factor.

"I would call our team 'vanilla pudding.' It's good but kind of plain," said longtime Diamondbacks fan Charles Lutz, 45, of Peoria. "The D-Backs need to look at adding a superstar and personality to make the team more appealing to potential fans."

It's true that the team doesn't have a real face of the franchise, like Luis Gonzalez, or larger-than-life personality, like Eric Byrnes. Many thought Justin Upton would become that type of player but he has never made a deep connection with fans.

Ken Kendrick, the Diamondbacks' managing general partner, believes players who can lure fans in droves are uncommon anyway.

"I think it's rare that a magnetic player who fans identify with can have that kind of an impact on attendance," he said. "It has to be an extraordinary circumstance, like, and I'm dating myself here, Fernandomania."

It's true that Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born pitcher for the Dodgers in 1980s, took baseball by storm. Eleven of his first 12 starts at Dodger Stadium in 1981 were sellouts. Attendance at games he pitched at home increased by an average of 5,500.

The Diamondbacks have found other ways to attract fans. Specialty events, such as Native American Recognition Day and Faith and Family Night, have done well. Games with Bobblehead giveaways, popular throughout baseball, also lure people to Chase Field and each of those games in 2012 has surpassed more than 30,000 in attendance.

Despite the team's recent struggles, Kendrick said he is not discouraged and sees promise ahead, which could lead to on-field success and better fan attendance. He notes that all five of the organization's minor-league teams made the playoffs this season, and that the Diamondbacks' current rotation is the youngest in the majors.

"I don't want to go overboard with that," he said, "but I think there is solid talent coming in to join the good young talented guys we have.

"While this year on the field there's been some disappointment, I like where we're going."

Notable: Miley's September was worse than any of his previous months. He posted a 5.90 ERA in the month; his next worst month was June (3.46 ERA). He's still among the leading candidates for the Rookie of the Year award, locked in what looks like a close race along with Washington's Bryce Harper and Cincinnati's Todd Frazier. Miley gave up five runs in six innings against the Rockies earlier this month. He has a 3.18 ERA in three starts against them. ... Pomeranz gave up four runs in three innings against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 21, but he came back to toss five scoreless innings against the Cubs in his most recent start. He's given up nine runs in 7 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks this season. Lefties are hitting just .163 against him, but righties are hitting .293.